FEATURE

STYLE EVOLUTION: DRAKE

By Sam Higgins, 24 October 2016

Drake’s thirty years have seen creative expression in abundance. Musically, he’s released four studio albums, five mixtapes and bagged himself 63 awards in the process. But with 21 ASOS OOTDs under his belt, Drizzy’s an obvious sartorial power player, too. Join us as we track his style evolution from a fresh-faced child star of Canadian TV to an untouchable hip-hop heavyweight.

Picture: Getty

Teen Choice Awards Drake

We all know Drizzy for his moody raps, his awkward Hotline Bling dancing and proficiency in pulling together trend-leading ‘fits. But a look at the rapper’s steez from over a decade ago and tells a different story. Here, attending the Teen Choice Awards in 2005, Drake showcased an interesting take on red carpet attire consisting of V-neck sweater, wide-collared shirt and a pair of baggy jeans, that barely allowed his brown shoes a glimpse of daylight. He was only 19 though, so we’ll let him off this time.

Picture: Getty

Denim Drake

Fast forward five years and Drake’s transition from telly to top 40 was in full flow. And although we didn’t realise it at the time, Toronto’s finest was already ahead of the style game, staying true to straighter-leg slacks while our staple trews became skinnier. Sartorial classics, like his pair of fresh white Converse and Levi’s denim jacket, provided a more obvious indicator that his style status was rising.

Picture: Splash

Low neckline Drake

While his casual kit was improving, Drake's formal ‘fits still needed work. Sure, his relaxed black blazer and matching straight-leg trousers naturally complemented his broader structure, but showing off his chest fluff via a low-cut neckline probably wasn’t as effective as a classic white shirt would have been. Having picked up 40 different award nominations in 2010, however, Drizzy can be forgiven for wanting to cut loose a little with his red carpet steez.

Picture: Xposure

All-white at Wimbledon Drake

And now we move to the last two years, in which we’ve seen Drake hone his signature method of injecting classic cuts with a hint of experimentation. Attending Wimbledon last year, the OVO head honcho produced a fine example of just that, pulling together an ace all-white getup that was both fitting for the occasion and epitomised his sartorial bravery. A white Stone Island sweatshirt, white jersey shorts and Nike kicks – Drake was only a tennis racquet away from his summer steez being court-ready.

Picture: Getty

Tracksuit at Wimbledon Drake

Drizzy really made the most of his stay in SW19 last year. Not only did he nail the challenge of a strict dress code, but he also showcased some strong cosy casuals too. Unfazed by his fellow A-listers dressing to the nines, Drake rocked up looking like part of the players’ entourage, clad in a comfy co-ord of navy sweatshirt and trackies.

Picture: Xposure

Pink perfection Drake

Nowadays, putting pink at the forefront of your outfit won’t warrant a second glance. And for that we have Drizzy to thank – bringing the hue into the menswear mainstream last year by utilising it on an oversized, pink piece of knitwear, before keeping things equally fresh down below with slim light-wash jeans and a robust pair of tan Timbs.

Picture: Film Magic

Brown brilliance Drake

Moving into 2016, the rapper remained at the forefront of the year’s biggest trends, exhibiting a seemingly never-ending range of bomber and souvenir jackets. Like Kanye, Drizzy isn’t afraid of plugging his own line, turning up to the Yeezy Season 2 show and attempting to upstage his pal’s line launch in a brilliant brown OVO varsity bomber. Giving the key piece full focus he kept things pared back elsewhere with a tamer trio of white tee, light-wash jeans and fresh-out-the-box Jordans.

Picture: WENN

Retro revival Drake

With the 90s redux in full flow, the brands you wore in the playground have returned with a bang. Wallabees, in particular, are enjoying a comeback and, of course, pioneering the latest trend was, yep, you guessed it, Drake. The rapper couldn’t have highlighted the fact he was sporting the classic Clarks kicks any harder if he tried – the pop of pink putting his feet at centre stage and playing off the neutral black and khaki hues above them.